Amanda Miller

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have no prior judicial experience.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have been the Tuscarawas County Juvenile Prosecutor for the past ten years and was an Assistant Tuscarawas County Public Defender assigned to our Juvenile Court for three years prior to becoming a prosecutor. I have been practicing in all Tuscarawas County Courts for the past fifteen years defending and protecting our local families and children. I was certified as a forensic interviewer of child victims through the Beyond the Silence Program. I have prosecuted over five hundred adult felony cases including rape and murder and have thirteen years of jury trial experience. I have been a facility governing board member of Stark Regional Community Corrections Facility for twelve years, working with multiple counties and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. I have worked closely with all ten public school districts, including Buckeye Career Center for the past ten years in both a diversionary and prosecutorial capacity.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
During the past ten years serving as Tuscarawas County Juvenile Prosecutor, it has become abundantly clear that we need significant changes in our Juvenile and Probate Court. We need a full-time judge who will engage in evidence-based best practices and participate in community collaborations to maximize the amount of programming and services offered to our families and residents. Over the past five years the number of juveniles appearing before the Court with addictions, serious mental health issues and dual-diagnosis challenges has increased. These juveniles often do not respond to the traditional modes of basic supervision and incarceration historically utilized. We need a comprehensive assessment program in place to identify issues, trauma and risk factors that begins immediately upon contact with the Court in order to activate the appropriate response as quickly as possible. In conjunction with this, I look forward to the opportunity to bring a juvenile drug court specialized docket to our Court in which long-term treatment and recovery is the primary focus.

I also look forward to implementing a countywide juvenile work program which would provide meaningful services to all the villages, cities and townships in Tuscarawas County. It has been my experience that no child will successfully transition to independent adulthood without a sense of discipline and work ethic. So many of our juveniles are without a parent who models these vital character traits. I believe that when the law is violated, a debt is owed to the community regardless of your age. Community service is an excellent repercussion for bad behavior but also a great tool to build character, life skills and pride in juveniles lacking those examples in their homes. Preparing a juvenile to successfully transition into adulthood and independence is the best way to ensure they avoid further court involvement.

I would work diligently to expedite our probate and paternity/custody cases to provide stability to families in a timely fashion. I believe it is possible to utilize mediation programs to bring these cases to conclusion quickly and without incurring large financial obligations.

Finally, I want to ensure that those appointed by the Court responsible for children, the elderly and incompetent are not only qualified, but properly trained and reviewed frequently to prevent any abuse or neglect of their wards. I believe I am the best choice to move our Juvenile/Probate Court forward into the future.